58th Edition - 12/01/06

• The Self-Promotion

This month's monthly movie preview (with a local twist) combines the December films with holiday things to do around the Chicago area. It might be my biggest strectch yet, but in this noggin' ....mmmmm egg nog.... it all makes sense.
Click here to read

• NFL

A quick recap from last night's game. Bengals 13, Ravens 7.

Game of the Week: Giants vs. Cowboys (Fox, 3:15). The Giants have been in the paper all week with Strahan complaining about the media, and Coughlin complaining about Manning. The crazy thing is, everyone has decided that the Cowboys are THE team to beat and the Giants are in disarray. If the Giants beat the Cowboys, they'll both be 7-5, with the Giants owning the tiebreaker and a huge division lead.

Bears. Everyone is complaining about the 9-2 Bears. Grossman, the defensive line not getting a sack, Benson saying he is better than Jones ... I really wish I could enjoy this run the Bears are on a little more.

• Chicago Weather

Right now it is about 31 degrees in Chicago. Not bad.
It rained most of yesterday afternoon. Bad.
There was a slight layer of ice on things. Bad.
It started snowing last night. Bad.
It's pretty windy. Bad.
There is a huge about of slush in the city. Bad.
Every street corner is like a lake and your shoes will get soaked. Bad.
I couldn't risk biking to work today. Bad.
While taking the Blue Line, I read an article saying the city was ready for the storm. SO bad.

So, if you are keeping score, Chicago is losing 1-8 right now.

• NBA: Kobe being Kobe

I was going to try and make some create link to Bruce Springsteen's "52 Channels and Nothing's On" with Kobe Bryant going for 52 points last night, 30 in the 3rd quarter. But then I remembered that Bruce's song was 57 channels. So that's that.

• The Picks

Curious how anal I am? Here's an example ... I can't give college picks this week, because mike d will read them and then have a helping hand in trying to take me down for the season long competition that he, myself and nine other guys are doing (College Football Pick'em). Right now I have a two game lead with only eight games to choose this weekend. I need all the help I can get. So I will post my picks later this weekend, and you'll just have to trust me. Come on ... who wouldn't trust a guy to be honest about gambling?

Previous Standings
j NCAA: (21-15-1)
billy z NCAA: (25-11-2)
j NFL: (17-21-3)
mike d: (17-22-2)

j NFL picks
Colts -7.5 over Titans
Dolphins straight up over Jaquars
Lions +13.5 over Patriots

As always, look for mike d and billy z's picks later today.

• Stuff

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the originators of the British "Office") wrote "The Office" episode from last night, and it wasn't that good.

"My Boys" -- a new sitcom on TBS is funny. Totally worth watching, especially compared to CBS sitcoms. Here is a link, there have been two episodes, but you can watch both online. It's like "Sex and the City" except the total opposite, while still being about a woman. Plus, it's based in Chicago and they actually know the city well.
Click here to watch

Don't go to the movies this weekend. Or at least don't bother seeing anything that opens up today. Go see --
"The Departed"
"Borat"
"The Prestige"
"Stranger Than Fiction"
"The Fountain"
"Casino Royale"
(in that order)

57th Edition - 11/30/06

• Hawkeyes: Yes, they have a basketball team ...

Not a very good one though. The Iowa Hawkeyes lost to Virginia Tech 65-69. That drops the Hawks to 2-4 this year. Adam Huluska is the big man on campus this year, and he put in 24 points last night. Unfortunately, there isn't a strong supporting staff and Coach Steve Alford has never proved himself with any talent level as Iowa. The one thing Iowa could count on with Dr. Tom Davis as a coach was a C+ team would play like a B team. But an A- team would also play like a B team.

• Ready for some football?

If you have the NFL network, the football weekend starts tonight, with the Ravens vs. Bengals. I don't, but my good friend "Bar" does. The Bengals are sitting at 6-5 and only 2-3 at home.

• Hall of Fame: MLB

Lee Smith and Andre Dawson are two former Cubs who are on the ballot for the Hall of Fame this year ... and have no chance of getting in.

There are two guarrentees this year. Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gywnn.

After that, things get interesting. Mark McGwire and Jose Cancesco are on the ballot as well for the first time. How both men are voted on will be an indication of how the baseball writers feel about the steriod age. Keep in mind, these are the same writers who didn't investigate the issue when it was happening in the late 90s. So they will either continue to ignore, or attempt to make up for their mistakes at the expense of others.

My thoughts, vote for numbers, or don't vote. Having hunches is not a good enough reason to keep someone out. Even if the hunch seems obvious.

• Stuff

Seeing the newest Danny DeVito flick isn't high on my list ... but seeing DeVito drunk on "The View" -- fantastic. Click here to watch

"Studio 60," for the first time ever, GAINED VIEWERS! They went from 7.31 million to 7.45. Victory.

If you enjoy "The Big Lebowski," then check out the Nintendo Wii remake of the bowling scene (with bad language). Click here to watch

David Caruso is a bad actor. Here is proof, with a montage of Caruso one-liners from "CSI: Miami." Click here to watch (and let me know if you make it through all 7 minutes).

I just started watching "The Wire" this week, starting with season 1 of course. Very strong. Will continue.

56th Edition - 11/29/06

• The Weekly Bull: Heading Home (5-9)

The Bulls used to be 3-3, then they began the seven game road trip (finishing 1-6). Luckily, New York was the last stop so they picked up a victory 106-95. And then New York came to Chicago, and the Bulls now have a two-game win streak.

Besides Ben Wallace having "no regrets" about wearing a headband during a game earlier in the week (a violation of team rules), he also said he had ligament damage and bone chips in his right hand. That is news to the team who said he had a sprained index finger and bruised wrist.

Wallace is consistent in using the word "we" instead of "me," but his actions proved otherwise. If you are willing to run the risk of getting benched by wearing a headband, you are selfish.

Some numbers:
Luo Deng had 12 points last night, after scoring 20 or more three games in a row.
The Bulls are shooting 38% from 3pt range.
Ben Gordon is shooting 29% from 3pt range.
Luo Deng is second on the team in rebounds at 6.0 a game.
Tim Thomas is averaging 8.5 minutes and 2.4 points a game.

The week ahead: Hornets (I predict win), Wizards (loss), Celtics (win).

• NFL

Right now, this is how the seeding for the NFL playoffs would look ...

NFC
1. Bears
2. Saints
3. Cowboys
4. Seattle
5. Panthers
6. Giants
(these are also the only teams with winning records in the NFC)

AFC
1. Colts
2. Ravens
3. Chargers
4. Patriots
5. Chiefs
6. Broncos
(three teams are one game behind the Broncos)

• Stuff

Know someone that loves "The Office" a little too much? Get them this snow globe. Other items are available as well.

And now something that should distract you the rest of the day ... Here are the Top 50 loose ends from "Lost" by the staff at IGN. This actually might be more annoying than entertaining.

55th Edition - 11/27/06

• NFL: It was gross

*Each Tuesday I will update the NFL playoff race since it is starting to make a little more sense.

*The Giants had a 21-0 lead in the 4th quarter against the 3-7 Titans. But Vince Young decided to use the skills that won him a National Championship last year and led the Titans to a 24-21 victory.

*The Steelers were in a must-win situation against the Ravens. And they lost 27-0, making the defending champs 4-7 and almost a lock for being out of the playoffs.

*The Bears lost 13-17 to the Patriots. It was filled with turnovers. The Patriots gave it up five times, the Bears four. Actually, I should say Grossman had four. Three interceptions and one fumble caused the Bears to lose. Once again coach Lovie Smith didn't consider benching Grossman for high-paid backup Brian Griese. Once again Smith has said going forward, Grossman is their quarterback. Brady's interceptions were caused by tips or receivers losing their grip. Grossman's interceptions were caused by bad throws.
It doesn't make sense for the Bears to throw it 34 times (completing 15). Both Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson ran the ball very well. Why not let them do it more? Grossman's main asset is throwing it up for Bernard Berrian, Griese could do that just as well. And perhaps run a more ball-controlled game. Perhaps. I don't know. But considering the easy path the Bears have to get to the Super Bowl this year, they should make sure to try everything to get the most out of their team.

The Best
QB
Matt Leinart: 405 yards, 1TD, 2INT - L
Drew Brees: 349, 2TD, 1INT - W
David Carr: 321, 1TD, 1INT - L
RB
Joseph Addai: 171 yards, 4TD - W
Michael Vick: 169 - L
Larry Johnson: 157, 1TD - W
WR
Larry Fitzgerald: 172 yards - L
Devery Henderson: 158, 1TD - W
Anquan Boldin: 140, 1TD - L

• Bulls: Head issues

Ben Wallace is upset because he isn't allowed to wear a headband during games, Skiles benched him twice during a game because he was wearing his headband. It's a team rule. It's also a team rule to tape your ankles and not listen to your music on a speaker in the locker room. Five years, $60 million. This better go away soon. This is not a matter of right or wrong. This is a pissing match between Wallace and Skiles. More on this Wednesday during "The Weekly Bull."

• The Picks (revisited)

j NCAA: 3-3 (21-15-1)
billy z NCAA: 3-3 (25-11-2)
j NFL: 3-3 (17-21-3)
mike d: 4-2 (17-22-2)

Mike had to go and mess up the symmetry of everyone breaking even this weekend. Way to go mike.

• Stuff

Finally - I am all caught up for tonight's episode of "Heroes." Here are my thoughts, it reminds me of the first season of "Lost" only better. Each week someone pretty amazing happens, you don't understand it, the show ends with a "to be continued ..." and then the next episode ACTUALLY EXPLAINS WHAT JUST HAPPENED!! Amazing.
Now, it also reminds me of the first season of "Lost" only worse. I was much more attached to the character in "Lost" than I am with "Heroes." Everyone is just a little annoying. Hiro is almost too childlike, you shouldn't want to put an adult in your pocket cause he's so cute. Peter Petrelli needs to cut his bangs out of his eyes. And Niki Sanders needs to do something interesting. At this point, anyone can die and I am fine with that. Especially FBI agent Audrey (Clea Duvall) -- no offense to her dad Robert Duvall though.